Sliding roof system for a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A sliding roof system for a motor vehicle comprises a front lifting mechanism and a rear lifting mechanism which are assigned to a front and a rear edge respectively of a cover of the sliding roof system, wherein the front lifting mechanism has a guide rail with a lifting slotted guide for a cover-side lifting slider as well as a controlling carriage which is displaceable along the guide rail in order to control the movement of the cover. The controlling carriage has a controlling slotted guide for a cover-side controlling slider, and the controlling slotted guide is provided in a slotted guide component which is pivotably attached to the controlling carriage.

The invention relates to a sliding roof system for a motor vehicle, witha front lifting mechanism and a rear lifting mechanism which areassigned to a front and a rear edge respectively of a cover of thesliding roof system, as well as a connecting element which is arrangedbetween the front and the rear lifting mechanisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sliding roof systems for motor vehicles make it possible to uncover aroof opening to a greater or lesser extent by moving the cover between aclosed position and a partially or completely opened position. In manycases they are so-called spoiler sunroofs, in which the cover is firstlifted and then moved backwards over the roof outer panel adjoining theroof opening or over a further cover.

The distance by which the cover must be lifted outwards is predefined byexternal factors. The cover must be lifted far enough above the roofouter panel for there being no risk that it (and a cover holder bearingthe cover) does not touch the roof outer panel in any operational state.The components required for the lifting are arranged in an area of themotor vehicle in which there is little space available, as theycompromise headroom.

The object of the invention is to provide a sliding roof system for amotor vehicle which has a small overall height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved according to the invention by a sliding roofsystem for a motor vehicle, with a front lifting mechanism and a rearlifting mechanism which are assigned to a front and a rear edgerespectively of a cover of the sliding roof system, wherein the frontlifting mechanism has a guide rail with a lifting slotted guide for acover-side lifting slider as well as a controlling carriage which isdisplaceable along the guide rail in order to control the movement ofthe cover, wherein the controlling carriage has a controlling slottedguide for a cover-side controlling slider and the controlling slottedguide is provided in a slotted guide component which is pivotablyattached to the controlling carriage. Such a construction makes itpossible for the cover-side controlling slider guided in the controllingslotted guide of the slotted guide component to be located above theguide rail when the cover is completely lifted. At the same time, a verysmall overall height can be achieved in the closed state of the slidingroof system as the height required to lift the cover can be generatedvia the rotational movement of the slotted guide only during the openingprocess.

According to a preferred embodiment, the slotted guide componentcooperates with a displacement slotted guide which is assigned to theguide rail. In this way, the rotation of the slotted guide component canbe controlled via the design of the displacement slotted guide.

In order to allow as large as possible a lifting movement of the cover,the lifting slotted guide can extend at the front end of the guide railfrom a level underneath the guide rail diagonally towards the upperlevel of the guide rail. At the same time, a movement of the coverbackwards is still made possible during the opening process.

Because the height of the slotted guide component is at most the heightof the guide rail, as small as possible an overall height of the slidingroof system can be realized.

In a preferred embodiment, the controlling slotted guide, viewed fromfront to back, extends diagonally downwards from an upper level and thensubstantially flat. In this way, the slotted guide component caneffectively first be moved backwards, without the cover-side liftingslider having to be already lifted significantly, while the front end ofthe cover can then be lifted significantly during the pivoting movementof the slotted guide component.

In a further preferred embodiment, the slotted guide component ispivoted at its free end by a height which is less than 50% of the heightof the guide rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and properties of the invention follow from thedescription below and the drawings, to which reference is made. Thereare shown in:

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, a guide rail of a sliding roof systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 a perspective view of a front lifting mechanism;

FIG. 3 a further perspective view of the front lifting mechanism,wherein some components are removed in order to be able to see internalcomponents;

FIG. 4, in a perspective view, a slotted guide component subassemblywhich is used in the front lifting mechanism, in a top view and a bottomview;

FIG. 5 one of the slotted guide components from FIG. 4 in twoperspective views;

FIG. 6 a longitudinal section through the front lifting mechanism,wherein the cover is in the closed position;

FIG. 7 a further longitudinal section through the front liftingmechanism, wherein the cover is in the closed position;

FIG. 8 a view corresponding to that of FIG. 6, wherein the cover isalmost completely lifted;

FIG. 9 a view corresponding to that of FIG. 7, wherein the cover isalmost completely lifted;

FIG. 10 a longitudinal section through the rear lifting mechanism,wherein the cover is in a maximally opened position;

FIG. 11 a connecting plate of a sliding roof system according to theinvention in a top view and a bottom view;

FIG. 12 a detail view of the front end of the connecting plate from FIG.11;

FIG. 13 a detail view of the rear end of the connecting plate from FIG.11;

FIG. 14, in a perspective view, the coupling of the connecting plate tothe rear lifting mechanism;

FIG. 15, in a perspective view, the coupling of the connecting plate tothe front lifting mechanism;

FIG. 16 the location of a catch protrusion of the connecting plate in acatch slotted guide of a sliding roof system according to the inventionin an actuation position and a catch position;

FIG. 17 a perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism in a closedposition;

FIG. 18 an exploded view of the rear lifting mechanism from FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 a further perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism of theclosed position;

FIG. 20 a longitudinal section through the rear lifting mechanism in theclosed position;

FIG. 21 a perspective view of the rear lifting mechanism in an openedposition; and

FIG. 22 a side view of the rear lifting mechanism in an opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a displacement mechanism 10 of a sliding roof systemaccording to the invention, which is arranged along an edge, extendingin the longitudinal direction, of a roof opening in a roof panel of amotor vehicle. A second displacement mechanism is arranged on theopposite edge of the roof opening. As the two displacement mechanismsare constructed with the components contained therein either symmetricalor mirror-symmetrical to each other, only one displacement mechanism isdescribed below. The explanations also apply to the second displacementmechanism.

Integrated in the displacement mechanism 10 are a front liftingmechanism 12 and a rear lifting mechanism 14 as well as a connectingelement 16 which is arranged between the front lifting mechanism 12 andthe rear lifting mechanism 14 and couples them to each other.

First of all, only the front lifting mechanism 12 and its functioningare described.

FIG. 2 shows the front lifting mechanism 12 in a position whichcorresponds to a closed cover 44 of the sliding roof system 10, thus aposition in which the roof opening is closed by the cover 44. A guiderail 18 and a lifting slotted guide 20 are to be seen. A slotted guidecomponent 22 is arranged inside the guide rail 18. The slotted guidecomponent 22 is pivotably connected to a controlling carriage 24 whichis to be seen in FIG. 3. The controlling carriage 24 is guided insidethe guide rail 18, with the result that it can be displaced along theguide rail 18.

The controlling carriage 24 can be connected, for example via a drivecable not shown here, to an electric motor which controls thelongitudinal movement of the controlling carriage 24.

The slotted guide component 22 contains two slotted guide componenthalves 26 and 28, as is to be seen in FIG. 4. At least one of theslotted guide component halves 26 and 28 has a controlling slotted guide30. As shown in FIG. 5, the controlling slotted guide 30, viewed fromfront to back, extends diagonally downwards from an upper level and thencontinues substantially flat, wherein shortly before the end sectionanother slightly sloping section is provided.

In addition, at least one of the slotted guide component halves 26 and28 comprises, on its side face pointing towards the guide rail, a firstslotted guide slider 32 which cooperates with a displacement slottedguide 34 of the guide rail 18.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the front lifting mechanism 12 in the closed positionof the sliding roof system 10 in longitudinal sections. A lifting slider36 which is assigned to a cover 44 of the sliding roof system 10 (thusis attached either to the cover 44 directly or to a cover support 88),is guided inside the lifting slotted guide 20. The lifting slotted guide20 (viewed from front to back) extends from a level underneath the guiderail 18 diagonally towards the upper level of the guide rail 18. Thecover-side lifting slider 36 in the closed position of the sliding roofsystem is thereby likewise located at least partially underneath thelevel of the guide rail 18.

Inside the guide rail 18, in the embodiment shown, there is a secondslotted guide slider 38 which on one side connects the slotted guidecomponent 22 to the guide rail 18. The slotted guide slider 38 defines arotational axis for the slotted guide component 22.

On the opposite side of the guide rail 18, in the embodimentrepresented, the slotted guide component 22 is guided in the guide rail18 by means of the controlling carriage 24. At the same time, theslotted guide component 22 is moveably mounted via the first slottedguide slider 32 in the displacement slotted guide 34 which is assignedto the guide rail 18.

A controlling slider 42 assigned to the cover 44 of the sliding roofsystem 10 is moveably arranged inside the controlling slotted guide 30,with the controlling slider 42 in the closed position of the slidingroof system 10 being located in the rear area of the controlling slottedguide 30 running substantially flat.

If the controlling carriage 24 is now set in motion, for example bymeans of an electric motor, via the drive cable, the controllingcarriage 24 pulls the slotted guide component 22 with it. The firstslotted guide slider 32 thereby moves inside the displacement slottedguide 34 of the guide rail 18. The front part of the displacementslotted guide 34 is implemented substantially flat, with the result thatthe slotted guide component 22 is first moved backwards at approximatelythe same height.

At the same time, the cover-side controlling slider 42 inside thecontrolling slotted guide 30 first moves in the part of the controllingslotted guide 30 extending substantially flat. As soon as it runsthrough the flat rise of the controlling slotted guide 30 following theend section, the controlling slider 42 is lifted slightly. This has theresult that the cover-side lifting slider 36 inside the lifting slottedguide 20 is also lifted slightly. This is converted into a slightmovement of the lifting slider 36 backwards, because of the diagonalalignment of the lifting slotted guide 20.

If the controlling carriage 24, and thus the slotted guide component 22,is moved further backwards, then the sliding roof system 10 reaches thestate where the cover-side lifting slider 36 passes from the diagonallyupwardly rising section of the lifting slotted guide 20 into thehorizontal part of the lifting slotted guide 20 (see the state shown inFIGS. 8 and 9). This state is achieved by displacing the slotted guidecomponent 22 further backwards, with the result that the controllingslider 42 is displaced from the lower, almost flat part of thecontrolling slotted guide 30 into the steeply upwardly rising part atthe front. As the alignment of the steeply upwardly rising part of thecontrolling slotted guide 30 is transverse to the displacement directionof the slotted guide component 22, the controlling slider 42 is nowentrained backwards, with the result that it entrains the cover and thusalso the lifting slider 36 backwards. The lifting slider 36 is therebyguided towards the transition to the horizontal part of the liftingslotted guide 20.

During this displacement of the slotted guide component 22 backwards,the slotted guide slider 32 inside the displacement slotted guide 34 ismoved upwards, whereby the slotted guide component 22 is pivoted aboutthe axis connecting the slotted guide component 22 to the controllingcarriage 24. This results in the front end of the slotted guidecomponent 22 being located above the guide rail 18 (see FIG. 9).

When the controlling carriage 24 is moved further backwards, the cover44 is entrained backwards by the controlling slider 42 which is locatedin the almost vertical section of the controlling slotted guide 30, withthe result that it is pushed over the roof panel of the motor vehicle.At the same time, the cover-side lifting slider 36 inside the guide rail18 is moved backwards. The complete open position of the sliding roofsystem 10 is reached when the slotted guide component 22 is moved to therear lifting mechanism 14, as shown in FIG. 10.

The connection between the front lifting mechanism 12 and the rearlifting mechanism 14 is described below.

During this lifting movement of the sliding roof system 10, the frontlifting mechanism 12 cooperates with the rear lifting mechanism 14 via aconnecting element 16.

In the embodiment represented, the connecting element 16 is implementedin the form of a connecting plate 46, as shown in FIG. 11. Theconnecting plate 46 has, at its front end, an actuation protrusion 48 onone flat side and a catch protrusion 50 on the opposite flat side.

The catch protrusion 50 here is attached closer to the rear liftingmechanism than the actuation protrusion 48.

At its rear end, the connecting plate 46 has a stop 52 which ispivotably coupled to the rear lifting mechanism 14, as shown in FIG. 14.Here, a slide bearing is formed by the configuration of the surfacescooperating with each other.

The actuation protrusion 48 is assigned to the front lifting mechanism12. As is to be seen in FIG. 15, the actuation protrusion 48 in theclosed position of the sliding roof system 10 engages in a connectingslotted guide 54 of the slotted guide component 22, in which theactuation protrusion 48 is moveably mounted.

The catch protrusion 50 of the connecting plate 46 is moveably arrangedinside a catch slotted guide 56. The catch slotted guide 56 can beimplemented for example in the guide rail 18 or a base plate 58. Thecatch slotted guide 56 has a front section running straight and asection running transverse to the plane of extension of the connectingplate 46. The transversely running section of the catch slotted guide 56is designed working in the opposite direction to the transverselyrunning section of the connecting slotted guide 54.

The connecting slotted guide 54 is aligned diagonally such that, whenthe slotted guide component 22 is displaced backwards (thus towards therear lifting mechanism 14), it impinges on the actuation protrusion 48laterally in the direction in which the short section running transverseto the displacement direction is located on the catch slotted guide 56.Accordingly, the connecting slotted guide 54 impinges on the actuationprotrusion 48 when the slotted guide component 26 is displaced forwards,from the short section of the catch slotted guide 56 into the longersection extending in the longitudinal direction.

When the sliding roof system 10 is moved from the closed position intothe vent position, the connecting plate 46 is displaced backwards by theslotted guide component 26 along its direction of extension. As long asthe catch protrusion 50 is located in the longer section of the catchslotted guide 56 (see FIG. 16), the connecting plate cannot give waylaterally, with the result that it is pushed straight backwards andactuates the rear lifting mechanism 14, as will be explained later.

As soon as the catch protrusion 50 has reached the short, transverselyrunning section of the catch slotted guide 56 (see FIG. 16), theconnecting plate 46 is displaced laterally under the action of thelateral force component which is generated as a result of the diagonalalignment of the connecting slotted guide 54, with the result that thecatch protrusion is set aside in the short, transversely running sectionof the catch slotted guide 56. When the catch position of the connectingplate 46 is reached, the rear lifting mechanism 14 is completely lifted.

When the slotted guide component 22 is moved further, it no longercooperates with the connecting plate 46. The front lifting mechanism 12is decoupled from the connecting plate 46 by the pivoting movement ofthe slotted guide component 22 during opening of the sliding roofsystem.

Underneath the connecting plate 46, a leaf spring 59 is guided insidethe guide rail 18 or the base plate 58. In the closed position of thefront lifting mechanism 12 this leaf spring is held under tension by theconnecting plate 46. When the catch position is reached, the connectingplate 46 no longer covers the leaf spring 59. However, the slotted guidecomponent presses on the leaf spring by means of a protrusion and holdsit initially under tension. The leaf spring 59 is, however, released bythe pivoting movement of the slotted guide component 22, whereby itlaterally blocks the connecting plate 46. In this way, an uncontrolledlateral slipping of the connecting plate 46, for example due tovibrations or transverse loads, is prevented.

The rear lifting mechanism 14 is described below.

An embodiment of the rear lifting mechanism 14 is shown in FIGS. 17 to22. The rear lifting mechanism 14 comprises a lifting carriage 60 withtwo opposite lifting slotted guides 62, two lifting levers 64, a fixedbearing 66, a translating lever 68, two first sliders 70, two secondsliders 72 as well as a guide element 74.

In the embodiment shown, the translating lever 68 is implemented in onepiece. However, it is also conceivable for it to be two individualtranslating levers 68 which are each assigned to one side of thecontrolling carriage 60.

The translating lever 68 is moveably coupled to the lifting carriage 60by means of the first sliders 70 and the second sliders 72. Thetranslating lever 68 is moreover pivotably connected to the liftinglevers 64, wherein the connection is positioned on the lifting lever 64between its ends. The lifting lever 64 is pivotably attached at one endto a fixed bearing 66 and connected at its other end to a guide element74. The translating lever 68 lies closer to the front lifting mechanism12 than the fixed bearing 66.

The lifting slotted guides 62 have a low-level section 78, a diagonallyupwardly extending section 80, a high-level section 82, a diagonallydownwardly extending section 84 and a second low-level section 86.

It is also conceivable for the two low-level sections 78 and 86 not tolie at the same level.

In the embodiment shown, the lifting carriage 60 accommodates thetranslating lever 68, the lifting levers 64, the fixed bearing 66 aswell as the guide element 74 between the side parts of the liftingcarriage 60 lying opposite each other. This arrangement ensures aparticularly stable construction.

The connecting element 16, designed as a connecting plate 46 in theembodiment shown, engages in a recess 76 of the lifting carriage 60 bymeans of the stop 52, as represented in FIGS. 14 and 20. The connectingplate 46 is thereby pivotably coupled to the rear lifting mechanism 14.This makes it possible to displace the connecting plate 46 transverse toits direction of extension during the transition from the actuationposition to the catch position, while at the same time a connectionbetween connecting plate 46 and rear lifting mechanism 14 remainsguaranteed.

In principle, other designs of the stop 52 are also conceivable, forexample by means of a single pin or a ball head.

FIGS. 17, 19 and 20 show the rear lifting mechanism 14 in the closedposition of the sliding roof system 10. The first sliders 70 are locatedin the high-level section 82 of the lifting slotted guide 62 and thesecond sliders 72 are located in the second low-level section 86 of thelifting slotted guide 62. The elements of the rear lifting mechanism 14accommodated between the side parts of the lifting carriage 60 arearranged in the closed position such that they do not protrudesubstantially in terms of their height beyond the lifting carriage 60.

If the slotted guide component 22 of the front lifting mechanism 12 ismoved by the controlling carriage 24, the connecting plate 46 is movedbackwards. The stop of the connecting plate 46 acts on the liftingcarriage 60 which is thereby likewise moved backwards. In the processthe lifting carriage 60 can at least partially travel over the fixedbearing 66.

Through the movement of the lifting carriage 60, the first sliders 70and the second sliders 72 are moved inside the lifting slotted guide 62.The longitudinal movement of the lifting carriage 60 is translated intoa setting-up of the lifting levers 64 by means of the translating lever68.

Firstly, half of the lifting movement is realized by moving the firstslider 70 inside the high-level section 82 and the second slider 72inside the diagonally downwardly extending section 84. Then the secondhalf of the lifting movement is generated by moving the first slider 70inside the diagonally upwardly extending section 80 and the secondslider 72 inside the high-level section 82.

The translating lever 68 is moved by the movement of the first sliders70 and the second sliders 72. The translating lever 68 there acts on thelifting levers 64 which are then set up. The lifting levers 64 rotateabout their ends, with which they are fastened to the fixed bearing 66.

The extent of the lifting movement of the rear lifting mechanism 14 isdefined firstly by the height difference between the high-level section82 and the low-level sections 78 and 86 and secondly by the length ofthe lifting lever 64 and the point at which the translating lever 68 isconnected to the lifting lever 64. Because, in the embodiment shown, thetranslating lever is connected to the lifting lever 64 approximatelycentrally between the two ends thereof, a lifting height is reachedwhich corresponds to more than twice the height difference between thehigh-level section 82 and the low-level sections 78 and 86.

At the same time, the guide element 74 is lifted by the setting-upmovement of the lifting levers 64. The cover holder 88 connected to thecover 44 is displaceably guided in the guide element 74, whereby thecover 44 is lifted by the setting-up movement of the lifting lever 64.

As soon as the first slider 70 reaches the front end of the low-levelsection 78, the connecting plate 46 passes from the actuation positioninto the catch position, with the result that the connecting plate 46does not move the lifting carriage 60 further backwards. Thiscorresponds to the vent position of the sliding roof system 10. Thus,the rear lifting mechanism 14 is already completely lifted in the ventposition, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

If the slotted guide component 22 of the front lifting mechanism 12 ismoved further backwards after the vent position has been reached, onlythe cover 44 is displaced backwards. In the process, the cover support88 connected to the cover 44 is displaced backwards in the guide element74.

In an alternative embodiment, the lifting carriage 60 comprises only onelifting slotted guide 62 which is formed as an open recess in thelifting carriage 60. In this embodiment, a first slider 70 and a secondslider 72 pierce the lifting slotted guide 62. The lifting carriage 60comprises two translating levers 68 which are connected to the liftingslotted guide 62 via the first slider 70 and the second slider 72.

1. A sliding roof system for a motor vehicle, with a front liftingmechanism and a rear lifting mechanism which are assigned to a front anda rear edge respectively of a cover of the sliding roof system, whereinthe front lifting mechanism has a guide rail with a lifting slottedguide for a cover-side lifting slider as well as a controlling carriagewhich is displaceable along the guide rail in order to control themovement of the cover, wherein the controlling carriage has acontrolling slotted guide for a cover-side controlling slider and thecontrolling slotted guide is provided in a slotted guide component whichis pivotably attached to the controlling carriage.
 2. The sliding roofsystem of claim 1 wherein the slotted guide component cooperates with adisplacement slotted guide which is assigned to the guide rail.
 3. Thesliding roof system of claim 1 wherein the lifting slotted guide extendsat the front end of the guide rail from a level underneath the guiderail diagonally towards the upper level of the guide rail.
 4. Thesliding roof system of claim 1 wherein the height of the slotted guidecomponent is at most the height of the guide rail.
 5. The sliding roofsystem of claim 1 wherein the controlling slotted guide, viewed fromfront to back, extends diagonally downwards from an upper level and thensubstantially flat.
 6. The sliding roof system of claim 1 wherein theslotted guide component is pivoted at its free end by a height which isless than 50% of the height of the guide rail.